Pizza vandal suspect found dead in jail cell

Sunday

Mar 22, 2009 at 4:51 PM

Howard Frank

The alleged mastermind behind a pair of pizzeria burglaries was found dead in his jail cell jail Sunday morning.

Mumun (Marty) M. Barbaros, 46, owner of the Continental Grill in Canadensis was found by a corrections officer at about 6:05 a.m., during morning rounds. The cause of death was not known, and an autopsy was scheduled at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown. State police in Swiftwater said foul play was not suspected, and the scene showed no signs of tampering.

Barbaros, along with Mehmet Ali Edgu, 20, an employee of the restaurant, were charged with the March 11 and March 17 burglaries of the Capri Pizza and Restaurant in Mountainhome. The pizzeria is still under construction.

Police had been investigating a string of vandalisms and burglaries of both the Mountainhome Capri and another Capri Pizzeria in Cresco. A Barrett Towhship officer caught the two men after a stakeout in the Mountainhome Capri Tuesday night.

A search of Barbaros’ car uncovered fire starters and liquid materials in packaging similar to incendiary containers discovered by investigators in the burnt out ruins of Kasa’s Pizzeria in Paradise Township in March 2008. Barbaros had not been charged in that incident.

Police discovered several of the stolen items from the March 11th burglary in a subsequent search of Barbaros’ home.

Barbaros and Edgu were arraigned on Wednesday for the March 17th breaking. The two were arraigned again Friday for the March 11 burglary. Barbaros was facing $275,000 bail for the two incidents. Edgu’s bail totaled $175,000.

Joe Kastrati, owner of the two Capri pizzerias, was told about Barbaros’ death by Officer Ryan Venneman. The policeman paid a visit to Kastrati Sunday morning.

“I was told I still had to go to court on Thursday to testify, but only against one person,” as Kastrati recounted the conversation. “The other guy’s dead. Marty’s dead. I had to wait to tell you to notify the next of kin,” he said Venneman told him.

A preliminary hearing to present evidence against Barbaros and Edgu was scheduled for Thursday. It is not clear if the preliminary hearing for Edgu will still go on as scheduled.